Educating Zeke

Zeke Loves Snow!

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:14:48 -0400

I know this is a little out of chronological order... But this video got through production before the others.

Greyhounds love snow! Well, Zeke especially loves snow. He’s gets all crazy every time is snows. In this video (which is the first video feature on Zeke’s YouTube page), Dr. P has just finished shoveling TONS of snow. A nice blizzard of wet snow. Yeah! Good weather for a snowman after busting your back clearing the drive.

Quintessential Zeke crazy-dog-in-the-snow romp & play. Just running, bouncing and all out silliness alongside the squeak-toy and it’s demise...

Well, later that night, after the snow froze up a bit, Mom was able to walk across to fetch it. In the meantime, who ever said greyhounds were only gentleman-like? Yes, he’s got manners too. But silly doggie is more like it. (Brief cameo of Nala, our new kitten... more video blog of her and Zeke to come!)

Rate this video or add a comment at his YouTube site!
http://youtube.com/user/ZekeTheWoofWoof

Or drop him a personal email.
Opening photos in NH are courtesy of Zeke’s Uncle Marvin.

Where are you hiding them?

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:26:27 -0400

Inspired by other YouTube videos, I decided to video Zeke’s reaction to the “Roo” of other greyhound singers! With the video cam built right in, I thought the computer’s view would be cutest.

Featuring YouTube video “Singing Greyhound” (YouTube Member: greyhound001) sung by Holly, a 5-year old greyhound in the background. Zeke listens, then looks... Checks behind the laptop... and for the rest of the evening as I played various greyhound videos, he just kept looking for the other greyhounds! Out the window, out the door, behind the entertainment center... And now, he’s fairly well convinced that we keep captive greyhounds inside the surround-sound box! He’s always peering in that cubby. And still, as I play this back, he singings a long!

Raising of the Co-Species Pack: “Go Good-Night.”

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:54:55 -0400

Raising a “co-species” pack isn’t necessarily difficult but not exactly easy neither. This has been years in the making! First the feline “pride.” Teaching felines to “speak and listen” is the key.

In this little video story, we first preview how Figaro asks Tamba to “please move.” In Zeke’s house, it is impolite to just remove an animal or any other being from “your seat.” After all, if you weren’t there to claim it in the first place, it really isn’t YOUR seat, now is it? Therefore, kindness, affection and then, “Excuse me, I want your seat. Please.”

Meanwhile, Zeke climbs the stairs in mid-July. Still a little nervous about them. Which foot goes next? He’s actually pretty good in this video. A pro, now! He used to get intimidated by the cats quick steps up and down the stairs. Then Tamba used to poke fun at him for getting nervous mid-climb. But now that he is permitted.... earned... the privilege of sleeping upstairs with the rest of the family, he has to climb stairs to “Go Good-Night.”

Die Erlkonig!

Fri, 6 Jul 2007 00:24:08 -0400

Die Erlkonig, a poem by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is popularly translated as “The Elf King” a supernatural being that only appears when death is upon! In this audio clip, Franz Schubert sets the poem to song. The first verse is heard...

Who rides here so late through night and wind?
It is a father with his small child.
He holds his son firm in his arms
He clasps him safely, he keeps him warm.

At the end of April 2007, Zeke gets his paw pads cut-up from jumping about and missing his step... I didn’t see, but it might be the curving concrete steps in the back yard... or maybe even the storm drain out front? Be ware of storm drains!!! Either way, he appeared at the front door, dripping blood down his legs. Not really making much fuss about it. FYI, greyhounds bleed out fast because they’re so tall with a strong-beating heart! They won’t die from this kind of bleeding. And it looks worse than it actually is. Just have him lie down. If it were worse than a few cuts and scrapes or a fever set, onward to the VET! Even Tamba & Figaro gave his paws some kitty kisses. He was surrounded by love and attention in his time of need.

First Aid: Hydrogen Peroxide solution to clean the wounds. Lots of gauze and tape. Bandages. Triple Ointment anti-biotic. Pretty ribbon to gently tie his muzzle. Clean and redress wounds often. Healed up nicely in a couple weeks. You see Zeke down and out, totally bummed... Then walking about 2 weeks later with a little tape and bandages. All is well now!

When Zeke winced in pain from cleaning the wounds, his head whips quickly in response! He’s not attacking. He’s in pain. And it’s a reflex. So, a gentle ribbon on the muzzle prevents accidental, reflex nips. I tied a bow and kept it gentle. In my opinion, this was not more painful than cleaning a scrape on a human. So, no need to bind his muzzle hard. He was already getting so put out by the whole experience. Keep your head out of his head’s path at all times. I almost got clonked good! After the first 2 days or so, he didn’t need the ribbon. He learned it would pass as quickly as it came.... Then it just didn’t hurt all that much.

I have since learned that Zeke likes to exaggerate a bit. Sometimes, before it could even hurt, he gives me the little high pitched cry. The same goes for his suffering of his consequences... such as the great starvation he endured for stealing Figaro’s meal! (It was only losing a Figaro-sized portion from a Zeke-sized portion.) Of course, this has all worked! Amazingly... Let’s just say, Zeke is a passionate soul.

Boots!

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 23:52:53 -0400

Sporting his new winter boots to protect his feet from rock salt in winter... It only took mom 20 minutes to get one boot on! He was very cooperative. Sound asleep, he let mom sit in his crate and figure out those booties. But then, as winter settled in, he needed sweaters and coats too. Finally, rubber booties add extra waterproofing! Always ready. Always fashionable... except we can’t do anything about the purple....

Now, it’s a snap to get the boots on! Just a few seconds. They slip off easy too. Zeke is kind enough to stop walking and keep that paw up off the ground! The boots come off when they get snow-logged! Like when we went to play in the blizzard. But usually, he loses a boot because he steps on the bootie of one foot.

The rubber booties are disposables. They break when he runs in them. But walking is fine. And they help waterproof his winter booties. The leather bottoms just are not waterproof! I will try the cordura ones this upcoming winter. As for the rubber booties, I’ve also tried socks underneath. That helps to protect the rubber from his nails... But you have to velcro the socks well so he doesn’t slip out of the sock with it’s bootie attached.